Morris dance is a traditional style of English folk dance that has been dated back to a performance recorded in 1448 (Sources: Wikipedia, The Molly Ring). Morris dances are rhythmic stepping with dancers usually wear bell pads on their shins and carrying an implement such as sticks, swords or handkerchiefs. The implements, music & dance choreography is based on the different styles of Morris which is based on the region of England that style originated. Styles include: Cotswold, Border, Longsword, Molly, Rapper, North West Clog & Mumming.

Morris dancers and a hobby horse: detail of Thames at Richmond, with the Old Royal Palace, c. 1620.  Source: Wikipedia

The origin of the dance is not entirely clear but some believe that it has its origins in rural celebrations of fertility as it was danced at festive seasonal occasions, especially in the spring. There was an evolution in Morris from a court setting to a rural setting between 1448 & 1899.  This evolution saw Morris being used by the working people, mainly men, to raise money from the middle & upper classes during hard times.  If you are watching dancers & notice a hat being passed around, it is a continuation of the tradition but instead of for survival, these collected moneys will go towards such things as refreshments, the rent for practice halls or travelling to annual Morris Ales.  An "Ale" is what we call our get events when we get together with other  Morris teams to perform.

In the late 19th century, Morris was found to be on the decline when several folklorists started recording & reviving the tradition. Most notably, the English folklorist Cecil Sharp first saw Morris dancing in the village of Headington & started collecting the dances.  Sharp was assisted by Mary Neal and Herbert MacIlwaine.

Today’s Morris is now performed by groups like Forest City Morris & Sword across several continents. Present day teams are all male, all female or mixed (it may or may not have been an exclusive male tradition). Forest City Morris & Sword is an all-female Morris team.

Forest City Morris & Sword (FCMS) is the original Morris team in London, Ontario, Canada.  We first danced out in 1978.  Some of us see Morris as a symbolic celebration of the earth & the seasons; some of us simply enjoy the tuneful music & even the exercise! We all like to think that we are keeping up an ancient tradition, as well as entertaining those who watch us.

Forest City is a Cotswold style team which draws inspiration for its dances from the village of Kirtlington.  The village of Kirtlington is located in Oxfordshire, in the southeast region of England.

Over the years, Forest City has danced at numerous locations & occasions.  We have performed at: the Mill-Race Festival in Cambridge, Stratford Summer Sounds Festival, Sparta Harvest Fest, the Elora Music Festival, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Grand Theatre Open House, Interiors, weddings, etc.  We also have performed at London events such as the Home County Folk Festival & the annual production of Wassail!

Although Morris dancing in North America is non-competitive, participation in the Morris Ales is by invitation only.  Our invitations include: Jack-in-the-Green Festival (Hastings, England), Marlboro Ale (Marlboro, Vermont), The Ph'ome (Boston, Mass.), Kingsessing/Spruce Hill Dance-Out (Philadelphia, Penn.), BlueMont Morris Ale & Toronto Morris Ale.  We also held our own London Morris Ale which has since been cancelled.

Want to know more details regarding Morris dancing? Follow the reference links below:

References: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_dance#Cotswold

The Molly Ring https://themorrisring.org/publications/morris-tradition

England: The Other Within http://england.prm.ox.ac.uk/englishness-morris-dancers-costume.html